Women’s Brains Can Heat Up More Than That Of Men, Study Finds

Spread the love

Brain News

Researchers at the Medical Research Council (MRC) Laboratory for Molecular Biology, the UK, explored how healthy human brains are hotter than injured brains. The study is published in the journal Brain.

The Study

The researchers wanted to understand how brain temperature followed a ‘daily rhythm’ according to brain health, region, age, sex, and time of day. They conducted the study in two phases. Based on the results, they formulated the “HEATWAVE”, a 4D round-the-clock temperature map of a healthy brain.

In the first phase of the experiment, the research team used magnetic resonance spectroscopy (MRS)—a brain scanning technique—to non-invasively measure the brain temperatures of 40 healthy volunteers throughout the day. The participants were also given a wrist-worn activity monitor to record factors like genetics, lifestyle choices, circadian rhythm, etc.

In the second phase, the researchers analyzed brain temperature data collected from 114 patients who suffered from traumatic brain injury.

The Findings

The results refuted the popular notion that the human brain and body temperature are the same. Instead, it was found that the brain was hotter and that it followed a daily temperature rhythm that strongly correlated with survival.

For instance, in healthy participants, the brain temperature fluctuated between 38.5°C to 40°C, with the highest brain temperatures observed in the afternoon and the lowest at night. The brain temperature varied more widely in patients with brain injury—from 32.6 to 42.3°C.

It was also found that female brains were around 0.4°C warmer than male brains and that brain temperature increased with age. In most cases, it was seen that aging brains lost the healthy brain function of cooling down.

Towards Interventions

The researchers are enthusiastic that monitoring and modifying brain temperatures can be a useful tool in the treatment and prognosis of brain injury and age-related brain disorders.

One of the lead researchers, Dr. Nina Rzechorzek, explained: “Our work also opens a door for future research into whether disruption of daily brain temperature rhythms can be used as an early biomarker for several chronic brain disorders, including dementia.”

To Know More You May Refer To

Rzechorzek, N. M., Thrippleton, M. J., Chappell, F. M., Mair, G., Ercole, A., Cabeleira, M., CENTER-TBI High Resolution ICU (HR ICU) Sub-Study Participants and Investigators , Rhodes, J., Marshall, I., & O’Neill, J. S. (2022). A daily temperature rhythm in the human brain predicts survival after brain injury. Brain : a journal of neurology, awab466. Advance online publication. https://doi.org/10.1093/brain/awab466


Spread the love
  • ADHD Linked To Dementia Across Generations, New Study Claims

    Researchers found that parents and grandparents of individuals with ADHD…

  • Sibling Fights Linked To Poor Mental Health In Children And Adolescents, Says New Study

    Researchers at University of New Hampshire found that sibling aggression…

  • Teens Playing School Sports Have Better Mental Health: Study

    New research found adolescents playing team sports in grades 8…

  • Bird Watching Near Home Improves Mental Health, New Study Finds

    New study found that being able to see more birds,…

  • Mental Health Services For Teenagers Lower Depression In Adolescence: Study

    Researchers at the University of Cambridge found that teenagers with…

  • Sunshine Boosts Mental Health More Than Any Other Weather Variable: Study

    The time between sunrise and sunset matters most when it…

  • Your Driving Habits Can Reveal Early Signs Of Alzheimer’s, Scientists Say

    Studies have found that people with symptomatic Alzheimer disease (AD)…

  • Mental Health Effects By Traffic Police Harassment

    Mental Health Effects By Traffic Police Harassment

    Traffic police harassment is a very common occurrence that numerous…

  • Narcissism Changes Throughout Life, New Study Finds

    New research published in Psychology and Aging, found that narcissism…

  • Excessive Posting Of Selfies On Social Media Can Make You A Narcissist, Researchers Say

    Excessive Posting Of Selfies On Social Media Can Make You A Narcissist, Researchers Say

    Excessive use of social media, in particular, the posting of…

  • Not All Psychopaths Are Criminals – Some Are Successful Instead, New Study Finds

    People view all psychopaths as violent. The study provides insights…

  • PTSD Increases Ovarian Cancer Risk, Study Claims

    Researchers found that women who experienced six or more symptoms…

  • Scientists Find A Network Of Neurons That Influence Eating Behavior

    University of Arizona researchers have identified a network of neurons…

  • A Racing Heart Can Alter Your Decision-Making Ability, Scientists Find

    Body-state monitoring neurons can hijack the decision-making process, according to…

  • Seasonal Variation In Daylight Influences Brain Function, New Study Confirms

    We experience more negative emotions in winters than in summer.…

  • Distrust Of The Past Can Fuel Obsessive-Compulsive Symptoms, Study Says

    Distrust of past experiences can lead to increased uncertainty, indecisiveness,…

  • Meditation Helps You Make Fewer Mistakes, Scientists Find In New Study

    Researchers from Michigan State University found that If you are…

  • Thinking Leisure Is A Waste Hampers Your Mental Health, Study Suggests

    If people start to believe that leisure is wasteful and…

  • Short Naps During Day Don’t Relieve Sleep Deprivation, Study Says

    Short naps don’t mitigate the potentially dangerous cognitive effects of…

  • Survivors Of Trauma Experience Persistent Grief Years Later, Study Finds

    New study finds that people who survive a trauma that…

  • Exposure To Antibiotics In Early Life Can Affect Brain Development

    Researchers at Rutgers University found exposure to antibiotics in early…

  • New Study Claims Only 10% Of Kids With ADHD Outgrow It As Adults

    Contrary to a popular notion, most children with attention deficit…

  • Scientists Find Histamine As A Potential Key Player In Depression

    New study finds that body inflammation and release of the…

  • Insomnia In Children Increases The Risk Of Mood, Anxiety Disorders In Adulthood, Study Claims

    Childhood insomnia symptoms that persist into adulthood are strong determinants…

  • Addiction To Sun Is In Your Genes, Research Says

    People who love basking in sun have genes involved in…

  • Scientists Confirm Dual Beneficial Effect Of Physical Activity In Depression

    New research reveals that physical activity not only reduces depressive…